The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-31
A PARADISE FOR THIEVES.
EAsy Hold High Carnival in TIM EmplEe
OF the Czar-"Thieyes' Markets."

EAsy Hold High Carnival in tlss Empigs
sof the .Czar--"Thieyes' Markets."
There 4is 30 much thievery in Russia
that all the principal cities have what u
known a. thieves markets" They are
conducted openly, and little il any effort
h made to trace an article which go0 In
that direction. Travellers, in their exas-
peration, often declare that the authori-
ties, the thieves and the venders Of stolen
articles are banded together, and that the
profits are divided on fixed scale. Be
that Is it may, there is more stealing In
thia than in any other country, unless
probably Egypt is excepted.
Here the thieves market Is two blocks
deep, four long, and gives commercial
transactions to Thousands of persons. The
goods are carried in by the pillagers,
burglars and footpads, sold to the shop
keepers openly, and no secret IL made Of
the fact that the goods were stolen. The
buildingsiare mostly Of brick. located ia
. quarter remote from the most respecta-
bic portion OF the city, and the shop
ksspess live in the second stories. The
pooms are all filthy, covered with vermin,
Allied with nauseous odors, and the goods
are dusty. The lasy men and women
ut in front Of the entrances In the mar
row streets, play chess or cards, smoke
and drink tea, and show shocking de-
gree cf depravity. They are mostly
Greeks. although many are Tartars, Jews
and Egyptians. The Jews are said to be
~ most cleanly, honorable and intelli-
Esnt
The thieves market fourishes most on
. Sunday morning, although Sunday il
noe generally observed here, and street
improvenssnts. building OF every charac-
" and trade 60 forward. But many
people take q holiday on Sunday and
spend y here. To this point wended
my way one Sunday u,orAapg, and saw
. throng such - Five PoinlsxNew York,
would have been shocked at IN her
palimiest days. In . window Saw some
3ins old chinaware, bearing the private
mark Of Alexander I, the crown and
seAl Of the empire. Immediately the
shopkeeper, woman, informed me that
the goods were stolen from the winter
palace; she knew it, because she got them
directly from the thief, and she had
handled his property before.
In the center Of each block is hollow
square, about 150 feet in diameter. These
were hlled with raen. women and chill
,dren, behind improvised counters, selling
or making almost everything. Second
hand boots are tile most popular goods,
and scores Of men and boys can be seen
repairing them in the open air, while
Qfhers 90 about selling them. The ground
i bowldered and covered with sand and
..1eas. Pigeons and crows, both sacredly
protected. hop about everywhere. The
CROWS are dark gray, with little black
coats. Great big Siberian hounds, muz-
Fled, stalk about With the multitude and
give xest to the scene.
Train loads OF old iron, copper and
Ilsather. hoops, cast of and new clothing,
jewelry, watches, clocks and silverware,
1urs everything that furnishes hsuses,
man, woman child and beast, in confu
sion and profusion, just like heap Of
stuff . burglar drops when hotly pur.
sued. II y said the thieves linger here
!Aftsr .dipoxng Of their plumber. and
often succeed in rsgaining the property
when II y purchased, and that goods are
stolen and restOlen Q number Of times in
, single day or night. The scenes about
The thieves market hare are duplicated
in four or Eve places In the empire.
They are as old as the cities, and the
markets having become dxsd institu.
fions. no attempt u made to frustrata
thena.
50 helpless are the honest natives
when robbed that they often seek witches
70 trace the direction Of the stolen prop.
ssty, TN witch proceeds by peculiar
m(aps. 6hs summons al the neighbour
whom she suspects, gets pail Of water,
makes little roll Of dough to represent
zach one present, and begins In the pres.
sncs At the party 70 drop the balls into
tks water, the theory being that when
she psipes tbs thief they will all snk.
Kps hmes out of ten the witch forces q
spiikssnion, II u waste Of time to ap-
eapl 70 the Gnth0rities. The supsrstitionl
a The people xEY thus tarnsd 70 advant.
aee. They bellsye II y far worss 10 b
ditzctsd q cHms than 70 make . fres
confession, In nearly every bedroom
I hAye oacuCisd ~ the Russiap hostelries
luve found . tiny shSine. Come aye
over ttp dnprs. others high up in the cor.
(, pAgN nGxt n the esilipG while . few nre
t1eNsl 10Y en- top a wsxdmhes. The
+, SSeetisas ~ lhs shrine y not only eatis.
ynceian ss@ . g9lAss 70 tks occupant "
~ Fn0p. should hs b. Rlounial, but 4
Gp11openn % ~ IanAlud. f0g n Iaas NOT
I'm lSsgpeef IN tbapR ~ pagpssgsted